Manchester doctor shot; wife charged

Manchester doctor shot; wife charged

A doctor attending a mediation session in Manchester, Tenn., was gunned down by his estranged wife in front of his lawyer's office Wednesday afternoon on the downtown square, police said.

Dr. Harry Bartee, 47, was shot multiple times by Brenda Bartee on the sidewalk in front of the Rogers, Duncan and North law offices on North Spring Street, according to Manchester police investigator Butch Stewart.

Harry Bartee was airlifted to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga.

His condition was unknown Wednesday but was believed to be critical.

Brenda Bartee, 47, is charged with criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million bond at the Coffee County Jail, Stewart said.

Brenda Bartee and Harry Bartee were at the lawyer's office for mediation about 1 p.m. CST, Stewart said, but "the mediation apparently didn't go well."

"They left, and as they were leaving -- one of the attorneys was walking them out -- a female pulled a handgun out of her waistband and cut loose with seven rounds and hit the victim four times," Stewart said.

Brenda Bartee gave police a statement admitting to the shooting, he said.

"She just said he'd been picking on her," Stewart said.

Stewart said Harry Bartee's girlfriend was at the shooting scene when police arrived, but the investigator did not know whether she was inside the lawyer's office before the shots were fired.

Stewart said late Wednesday that there were still a number of witnesses to interview. No one else was injured in the shooting.

"Our security camera just caught it," Fox said. "She was about two steps behind him and she shot him right in the back. He hits the ground and she just keeps shooting."

Fox said two Bedford County corrections officers were looking at guns in the pawn shop when the shooting started, and that he and co-worker Bryson Simerly followed the officers out as they ran to aid the downed and bleeding Bartee, he said.

Fox said he put a towel under Bartee's head and he and Simerly, a lifeguard, started helping as much as they could with a small first-aid kit.

"I saw about five shells there on the ground and the gun was still sitting there on the sidewalk," Fox said. "It was still loaded; the hammer was back and slide was still forward.